Whatever Happened to Bette & Joan?

written by Jo Frank
directed by Mary Swan

This uniquely staged tribute to two of Hollywood's most powerful leading ladies is a play with a difference. Not just a retrospective on the lives and careers of these Hollywood legends, the play delves into the dark, sometimes twisted, but also hilarious mythology which surrounds the relationship between two of the most glamorous women in Hollywood history. Bette and Joan are laid bare as their star personas are peeled away layer by layer, challenging our notions of gender and what it took to be a true 'Star'.

"Whatever Happened to Bette & Joan?" was premiered in a shorter version at the Edinburgh Festival in 2000 at C Venue, where it was acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. Mary is delighted to be returning to the play and working with Joanna to develop the potential of the original script.

"Whatever Happened to Bette & Joan?" is touring to arts and community venues during spring 2006 and will end at the Pride of Place festival, celebrating regional touring theatre. To view performances in your area click here.

Target Audience: Adults over 14 - some strong language
Running Time: Approx. 80 minutes without interval

"A dark, delicious treat! The show deserves bucket-loads of plaudits" Edinburgh Evening News

"Beautifully written, a tour de force" The List

"Classy Stuff" The Stage

about the creative team........

Mary Swan - Director
Mary Swan is the new Artistic Director of proteus, having previously been Associate Director at The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich and Solent Peoples Theatre in Southampton. Work at Ipswich included "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Field", "Liquidizing Lizards" (a collaboration with poet Brian Patten), and "Macbeth". She has also created large scale work for and within a diverse range of communities including mental health service users for the "Shrinkwrapped" installation project at Solent, and the culturally diverse communities in Suffolk for the "Way Black East" project for The New Wolsey. Her first show for proteus, will be "Peter Pan" touring the South East and beyond in winter 2005.

Jo Frank - Writer
Jo began her career as an actress, having trained ar The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, and has worked with Mary on a number of productions over the years including "Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi" at The King's Head in London. Her writing debut was at the 1996 Edinburgh Festival with "Pigs in Knickers".

Cast

Bette Davis - Kate Russell-Smith
Joan Crawford - Richard Sandells

Production Team

Writer - Jo Frank
Directer - Mary Swan
Designer - Sam Pine
Music - Paul Wild
Production Manager - Simon Beckett

Production Photography by Ben King